DERMATOLOGY

Skin Conditions and Allergies

Did you know that dogs and cats have allergies too? There are a number of skin disorders that affect dogs and cats. These disorders may be the result of an infectious or non-infectious disease, an external parasite (i.e., fleas) or an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction causes the animal to itch, resulting in rubbing, licking, biting or scratching. The itching may be localized to certain areas or may be over their entire body. Usually the feet, face, ears, armpits and front legs are affected. If your pet has a flea allergy, their rump, tail, groin and thighs are usually affected.

At Jonesborough Animal Hospital, we see common dermatological conditions such as:

Flea allergy dermatitis

Atopy (environmental allergy)

Bacterial diseases

Parasitic skin diseases

Fungal skin diseases (such as ringworm)

Food Allergies

Skin cancer

Skin diseases of the foot or nail

Seborrhea and acne

Alopecia (hair loss)

Nutritional skin diseases

Endocrine and metabolic skin diseases

Auto-immune skin diseases

Drug reactions

If your pet is exhibiting itchy skin symptoms, is suffering from alopecia (hair loss) or other skin conditions, please give us a call. We will thoroughly examine your pet and discuss further diagnostic testing and treatment options with you.

Ear Care

Ear infections of the external ear (otitis externa) are very common in dogs, but less common in cats. Although any dog or cat can get an ear infection, some breeds appear to be more prone to ear infections than others. Dogs with pendulous ears, like Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, or dogs with hairy inner ear flaps, like Miniature Poodles and Schnauzers, tend to have a higher occurrence of ear infections. In cats, the Persian breed seems to be more prone to such infections.

Even though there are many underlying causes of otitis, most cases respond quickly to treatment especially if the initiating cause is addressed. The sooner we see the pet with otitis, the easier the treatment may be. Ear infections are very uncomfortable for your pet. Once your dog exhibits symptoms of otitis, please give us a call.

Symptoms of otitis include:

Odor or discharge from the ear

Scratching or shaking of the head or ears

Soreness

Swelling of the ear flap

About Otitis

Otitis has many initiating causes such as flea allergies, pollen or house dust allergies, ear mites, foreign bodies, hormone imbalances, anatomical abnormalities (i.e., excessive hair in the ears, floppy ears or polyps/tumors in the ears) and water getting in the ears. Yeast or bacterial infection will complicate otitis; however, these germs do not start an ear problem.